Messed up Library [open thread]

EvM1 · 03-30-2016, 08:40 PM

After making a heap of changes to my Calibre library I thought I'd make a manual save. I noticed there were hundreds more files than I thought was right and that perhaps I had multiple copies of some files.

So then I had the brilliant idea of emptying the folder and starting again, however, following this, Calibre would not allow me to save to that folder anymore.

Next brilliant idea was that I created a Calibre Library 2. I was able to save the library to this, however each folder within this new library is empty.

I've now discovered that the original Calibre Library folder is still connected somehow. Any of the files I've updated by adding and then deleting original, these have been added to the old Calibre Library folder.

When I 'save to disk' to my Calibre backup, this also has empty folders so I'm unable to save a copy of my library at all.

Can someone help me to save my library please?

Dr. Drib · 03-30-2016, 08:59 PM

Do NOT double and triple post.

This is called spam, by anyone's reckoning.

DO NOT CREATE ANY MORE THREADS ON THIS TOPIC.

THANK YOU.

Don
(Moderator)

BetterRed · 03-30-2016, 09:11 PM

Moderator Notice
@EvM1 - posting the same thing 3 times won't get you an answer any sooner - in fact to the contrary it will irritate some responders. I appreciate you're probably stressed but...

We've (Me & Dr. Drib) closed the other two threads

When you Remove a library from calibre it does not remove the library folder or it's contents, as you've discovered it merely removes the linkage within calibre to that library folder.

To copy or move books between libraries use the Copy to Library option in the Book List context (right click) menu. You can add Copy to Library to your toolbar via Preferences>Toolbars if you don't like using context menus.

The Save to Disk feature is there to allow users to save books in different folder hierarchies with different file names. And whilst it could be used as the means to backup a library, restoring from it wouldn't be as easy as keeping a backup with a 3rd party purpose designed backup tool. What operating system are you using - Linux, OSX or Windows?

BR

theducks · 03-30-2016, 11:01 PM

And I split off the original (excising my Mod powers

) from a Hijacked thread into one of those that is now closed .

Every post has a number in the upper right (near the Karma and report post buttons) Your post became post #1 when I moved it. A clue that no new thread need be started. Use the Report button to request the thread be relocated. Do not just start another (spam) thread.

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 12:55 AM

Duly scolded. I apologise for not understanding the system properly.

I'm using Windows 10.

BetterRed · 03-31-2016, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvM1

After making a heap of changes to my Calibre library I thought I'd make a manual save. I noticed there were hundreds more files than I thought was right and that perhaps I had multiple copies of some files.

So then I had the brilliant idea of emptying the folder and starting again, however, following this, Calibre would not allow me to save to that folder anymore.

Next brilliant idea was that I created a Calibre Library 2. I was able to save the library to this, however each folder within this new library is empty.

I've now discovered that the original Calibre Library folder is still connected somehow. Any of the files I've updated by adding and then deleting original, these have been added to the old Calibre Library folder.

When I 'save to disk' to my Calibre backup, this also has empty folders so I'm unable to save a copy of my library at all.

Can someone help me to save my library please?

Do you have a library with your books in it, even if they are in a mess?

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvM1

Duly scolded. I apologise for not understanding the system properly.

I'm using Windows 10.

Same as me - do you have an empty external disk drive ?

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 02:31 AM

I do have a library to look at in Calibre. I have an external drive, which had an old copy of this on it, but - loooonnng story I had to delete it all for an emergency use. I really don't want to have to delete everything, reinstall Calibre and reload it from my kindle - 1487 files. Most of these are word docs converted to AZW3.

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 02:32 AM

I possibly have room on the external hard drive to save something not too big.

BetterRed · 03-31-2016, 02:57 AM

I want to make sure you have a backup of your library before we start 'fixing' it.

How big is your library folder - right click library folder in File Explorer, select Properties and open the General Tab.

If your external drive has enough free space, copy the library folder there

Otherwise how much free space on your main drive - Windows+E.

BR

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 05:25 AM

Thank you, I really, really appreciate the help. I copied Calibre Library, Calibre Library 2 and Calibre Backup onto the external HD as they are with all folders empty.

theducks · 03-31-2016, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvM1

I do have a library to look at in Calibre. I have an external drive, which had an old copy of this on it, but - loooonnng story I had to delete it all for an emergency use. I really don't want to have to delete everything, reinstall Calibre and reload it from my kindle - 1487 files. Most of these are word docs converted to AZW3.

Uninstall NEVER changes a Library.
You just have one without the program to Look/manipulate one

Uninstall never deletes Preferences. Once created, they remain.

And 'Delete Library' on the Library icon does not really remove a Library. It only deletes it from the switch Library LIST. If you truly want it gone, follow the instructions that show when you use that menu choice. Also note that you can not delete the current (in use) Library

BetterRed · 03-31-2016, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvM1

Thank you, I really, really appreciate the help. I copied Calibre Library, Calibre Library 2 and Calibre Backup onto the external HD as they are with all folders empty.

@EvM1 - are you saying that none of your library\author\book folders actually have any book files - eg files with extension MOBI. EPUB, DOC, DOCX etc

If they are not completely empty can you give me a clue what's there -

in the library folders:

is there a file called metadata.db ,
are there folders with Author names

in the Author folders are there

folders with Book Title names and a number - eg "Bleak House (3231)"
in the Book Title folders do these files exist

a file named cover.jpg
a file named metadata.opf
files with 'author name - book title.xxxx' where xxxx is MOBI, EPUB, DOCX etc

Sorry for being so pedantic - but I don't want to create further havoc by giving you bad advice based on false assumptions

BR

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 06:54 PM

There are folders of author names but each folder is empty. Each one used to contain 3 files, docx, AZW3, metadata.opf.

BetterRed · 03-31-2016, 07:16 PM

@EvM1 - do a search (Win+S) for 'metadata.db' - you may need to click 'Search My Stuff'

BR

EvM1 · 03-31-2016, 07:23 PM

When I opened Calibre just now I got this message:

The Library at C:\users\Ev\Documents\Calibre Library appears
to be corrupted. Do you want to try and rebuild it automatically?
The rebuild may not be completely successful. If you say No, a new
empty Calibre library will be created.

Yes No Show Details

So I went with Yes. It's happening now. I'm guessing it won't be very successful given that the backups are all empty.

03-30-2016, 08:59 PM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,327 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Do NOT double and triple post. This is called spam, by anyone's reckoning. DO NOT CREATE ANY MORE THREADS ON THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU. Don (Moderator) Last edited by Dr. Drib; 03-30-2016 at 09:27 PM.

03-30-2016, 09:11 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,612 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Moderator Notice @EvM1 - posting the same thing 3 times won't get you an answer any sooner - in fact to the contrary it will irritate some responders. I appreciate you're probably stressed but... We've (Me & Dr. Drib) closed the other two threads When you Remove a library from calibre it does not remove the library folder or it's contents, as you've discovered it merely removes the linkage within calibre to that library folder. To copy or move books between libraries use the Copy to Library option in the Book List context (right click) menu. You can add Copy to Library to your toolbar via Preferences>Toolbars if you don't like using context menus. The Save to Disk feature is there to allow users to save books in different folder hierarchies with different file names. And whilst it could be used as the means to backup a library, restoring from it wouldn't be as easy as keeping a backup with a 3rd party purpose designed backup tool. What operating system are you using - Linux, OSX or Windows? BR Last edited by BetterRed; 03-30-2016 at 09:41 PM.

03-31-2016, 06:54 PM	#13
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	There are folders of author names but each folder is empty. Each one used to contain 3 files, docx, AZW3, metadata.opf. Last edited by EvM1; 03-31-2016 at 07:11 PM.

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03-30-2016, 08:40 PM	#1
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	Messed up Library [open thread] After making a heap of changes to my Calibre library I thought I'd make a manual save. I noticed there were hundreds more files than I thought was right and that perhaps I had multiple copies of some files. So then I had the brilliant idea of emptying the folder and starting again, however, following this, Calibre would not allow me to save to that folder anymore. Next brilliant idea was that I created a Calibre Library 2. I was able to save the library to this, however each folder within this new library is empty. I've now discovered that the original Calibre Library folder is still connected somehow. Any of the files I've updated by adding and then deleting original, these have been added to the old Calibre Library folder. When I 'save to disk' to my Calibre backup, this also has empty folders so I'm unable to save a copy of my library at all. Can someone help me to save my library please?

03-30-2016, 11:01 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,891 Karma: 59840954 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	And I split off the original (excising my Mod powers ) from a Hijacked thread into one of those that is now closed . Every post has a number in the upper right (near the Karma and report post buttons) Your post became post #1 when I moved it. A clue that no new thread need be started. Use the Report button to request the thread be relocated. Do not just start another (spam) thread.

03-31-2016, 12:55 AM	#5
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	Duly scolded. I apologise for not understanding the system properly. I'm using Windows 10.

03-31-2016, 02:31 AM	#7
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	I do have a library to look at in Calibre. I have an external drive, which had an old copy of this on it, but - loooonnng story I had to delete it all for an emergency use. I really don't want to have to delete everything, reinstall Calibre and reload it from my kindle - 1487 files. Most of these are word docs converted to AZW3.

03-31-2016, 02:32 AM	#8
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	I possibly have room on the external hard drive to save something not too big.

03-31-2016, 02:57 AM	#9
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,612 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	I want to make sure you have a backup of your library before we start 'fixing' it. How big is your library folder - right click library folder in File Explorer, select Properties and open the General Tab. If your external drive has enough free space, copy the library folder there Otherwise how much free space on your main drive - Windows+E. BR

03-31-2016, 05:25 AM	#10
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	Thank you, I really, really appreciate the help. I copied Calibre Library, Calibre Library 2 and Calibre Backup onto the external HD as they are with all folders empty.

03-31-2016, 07:16 PM	#14
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,612 Karma: 29710338 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@EvM1 - do a search (Win+S) for 'metadata.db' - you may need to click 'Search My Stuff' BR

03-31-2016, 07:23 PM	#15
EvM1 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Fire HD 10	When I opened Calibre just now I got this message: The Library at C:\users\Ev\Documents\Calibre Library appears to be corrupted. Do you want to try and rebuild it automatically? The rebuild may not be completely successful. If you say No, a new empty Calibre library will be created. Yes No Show Details So I went with Yes. It's happening now. I'm guessing it won't be very successful given that the backups are all empty.

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